News: DMN: Babe Laufenberg: What Cowboys can't do if Matt Cassel is their new QB

[kramskoi]

And realize that the current crop of backups is not going to weather bad seasons when Romo retires. Time to really get serious about his real replacement. The league is too ticky tacky to relive the days of backups taking a team to the SB. Those days left when all the rules changes hampered the D's and allowed the O's to get by with the obvious pick plays run by the elites - NE, Denver, Green Bay

Yeah...you roll tape of the Steelers, circa 1970s and you really get a sense of just how much teeth the league has taken out of defenses since then. In those games, just getting across midfield was cause for elevated pulses and hyperbolic play-by-play. Pick and rub...Pick and rub...sooner or later something's gonna break. It seemed that the Cowboys didn't have much "home cooking" last Sunday...not that it would have mattered anyway.

One thing we should take note of is how much Romo and Bryant have contributed to the perceived competence of Garrett and Linehan. Minus those two, suddenly both of them seem pedestrian and smaller than the moment. They still have four weeks to change perception but so far they have not been impressive. Marinelli is stealing their thunder once again...you almost wish he was the head coach for the next four games.

 

[RonSpringsdaman20]

Sure he was. I rember watching him fill in for Troy when he had a shot at the playoffs and it was pathetic. But we made a move the following year and didn't stick with him.

That's right.... Steve Beuerlein...... understanding the importance of the back up on a team trying to win.

 

[Idgit]

I just think it's a no brainer and I was one who wasn't as critical of Weeden during the first 2 games. If they wait until we're 2-5 or 2-6 the season will be lost. You can't expect Romo and the regulars to come back and be undefeated.

Me, too. He was worse this week--made a stupid throw on the pick and missed a scoring opportunity at the end of the game--but the real issue is that the team needs an offensive spark, and there just aren't a lot of ways to get it with the personnel we have left. Even if Cassel's a lateral move, it's one you make just to provide the illusion of motion. Michael's the other lever we've got.

And let's incorporate some picks to free up our hard-to-tackle WRs who don't give us anything outside right now. Unless Dez comes back and solves that problem for us.

 

[neosapien23]

Hey Babe,
I'll till you what the Cowboys can't do with Cassel at QB. That's play any worse. Watching Weeden play QB for my favorite team as been like forcing me to watch a snuff film. I swear a piece of my soul was killed when that abortion of a QB was allowed to play.

 

[conner01]

Like what? We're not going to win with Weeden at the helm. He's just not going to push a magic button and turn it on. He is what he is and he is what he's always been. At this point, bring in Moore. We have nothing to lose.

We have plenty to lose

 

[links18]

And then there is turn over the football, which looks like 19 for 36 with 4 INTs and a YPA of 5.6.

OK, why is he on the team then? Why is Weeden on the team? Who thought these guys could play?

 

[Kevinicus]

Nobody was getting open Sunday though Cassel is the better QB over Weedone, Dallas would have still lost.

Looking back it was a good idea to play dummy vs the Cheatriots moving forward, because the last time Cassel played vs Belicheat it got pretty ugly.

Why do people keep saying this when it's not true? There were times when people got open (though a lot of the time the offensive strategy was to play right into the hands of the defense - terrible coaching, injuries or no. I know some don't like to hear the truth on this, but there it is). On the play right before Street's great sideline catch, Witten was WIDE open down the seam. He was open early too. Easily a 20+ yd gain (A TD if the safety somehow doesn't make the tackle). Weeden just checked it down to McFadden.

 

[Dodger12]

We have plenty to lose

I'll ask again.....like what? Another game?

 

[Clarkson]

LOL you think these coaches can make adjustments and use deception and creativity in their offensive strategy? its sounds great and would probably work but thats too logical. this team is all about being stubborn, vanilla and execution. execution, execution, execution, players beating their man with talent. you want to get all creative now and actually make adjustments that make sense? HAHAHAH this guy. who's he kidding? does he really know the Cowboys? come on dude. *** outta here.

you are the worst kind of "fan" and know about 1/10000 that you think you do.

 

[Direwolf63]

Changing QB's is not something you take lightly. It has huge ramifications throughout the team not only in game planning but also the physch of the team. You have to think about the what ifs like if you put Cassel in and he's no better than Weeden or maybe even worse. Or what if Cassel does great then gets injured and you have to go back to Weeden. Talking about losing the team. That's exactly what would happen. Having said all that with the bye week coming and giving the team 2 weeks to prepare Cassel I'd make the change. It's a gamble and I understand the risk and am glad I don't have to make that decision.

Garrett needs to talk to his team captains before making the change. He needs to get a feel as to what the players are thinking. That would reduce chances of "losing the team".

 

[Mookie]

Seriously, why not try Moore at quarterback? The guy is a winner; he is the winningest quarterback in college football history, (Cassel never started a game on college in contrast). He can move decently, and what could go wrong?

 

[mahoneybill]

Yeah...you roll tape of the Steelers, circa 1970s and you really get a sense of just how much teeth the league has taken out of defenses since then. In those games, just getting across midfield was cause for elevated pulses and hyperbolic play-by-play. Pick and rub...Pick and rub...sooner or later something's gonna break. It seemed that the Cowboys didn't have much "home cooking" last Sunday...not that it would have mattered anyway.

One thing we should take note of is how much Romo and Bryant have contributed to the perceived competence of Garrett and Linehan. Minus those two, suddenly both of them seem pedestrian and smaller than the moment. They still have four weeks to change perception but so far they have not been impressive. Marinelli is stealing their thunder once again...you almost wish he was the head coach for the next four games.

Nice analysis of their contributions, and how we are stuck in " the system"... Cheating etc, at least Belicheck adapts to the times.

 

[jobberone]

The principle of what Parcells was saying still applies. Once you bench a mentally weak QB it is pretty certain you lose the player.

Weeden has a delicate psyche, no question about it. Once this move is made, they are hitching their wagon to Cassel for the remainder. Garrett has to decide if he is ready to do that.

To us, it is a no brainer. To him, he is probably not sure if Cassel will make a difference and if he does not, it is not like Weeden is going to be a viable option once this is done and that basically means the season.

Not having a QB and having one of them play poorly is not an easy situation. Look at Houston, they are going back to Hoyer. But is Weeden as mentally tough as Hoyer to be able to handle that? I do not think he is even close.

I realize even having him around is a mistake, but they chose this option after having an offseason to get someone else, it is not like they could not have signed Shaun Hill or something if they really wanted to.

As well said as it's going to get.

 

[weaver21]

I'd be surprised if there's not a change announced next week. There's no way Cassel can be worse than Weeden has been. In reality, Weeden hasn't been terrible, but he's just been way too conservative and the team simply just needs a change. Weeden has proven since entering the league that he's not a winner. That's not an opinion, that's a fact. He's just not a good quarterback. Cassel, although isn't a world beater, has proven to be a winner in this league. He led the Chiefs to the playoffs a couple years ago and played well during that season. I even remember that Eagles game two years ago when he beat them when he was on the Vikings and was excellent. I think he threw for like 350 yards and a couple touchdowns. My point is, Cassel is a more talented quarterback than Weeden and although he may not know the system as well as Weeden, I can bet that Cassel can make those throws that Weeden cannot. There's nothing to lose here for the Cowboys if they make the change. This upcoming game with the Giants is a must-win in my opinion and this teams needs a boost. Cassel could be that boost if he comes in and plays well and leads us to a victory.

 

[burmafrd]

those going on about losing the team: Garrett is already on the verge of that by sticking with a bad QB this long. His players are not stupid robots- they see what we see- a QB that has nothing more to offer and what he has is not nearly enough. Sticking with Weedon when you do have an option hurts Garrett a lot worse in the eyes of the players.

 

[cowboys2233]

One terrible quarterback doesn't wanna place blame on another terrible quarterback. Shocking.

Yup, this was my very first thought. These ****** QBs have got to stick together. LOL. I stopped taking the article seriously when he suggested that we can't put this all on Weeden. Um, yes we can. We really can.

 

[dupree89]

LOL you think these coaches can make adjustments and use deception and creativity in their offensive strategy? its sounds great and would probably work but thats too logical. this team is all about being stubborn, vanilla and execution. execution, execution, execution, players beating their man with talent. you want to get all creative now and actually make adjustments that make sense? HAHAHAH this guy. who's he kidding? does he really know the Cowboys? come on dude. *** outta here.

exactly right.